How to Ensure the Safe Shipping of Heavy Items

How to Ensure the Safe Shipping of Heavy Items

In North America, roughly 3.7 million people work in the transportation industry driving trucks. These companies and individuals work hard to get freight to its destination on time and unscathed. Those that succeed follow strict rules and guidelines. One of those involves using heavy-duty tie-down straps to secure the cargo.

There’s tremendous competition in the transport industry. For your business to succeed, you need to take every precaution possible. It’s simply not enough to have qualified drivers and an excellent fleet of trucks. You want your customers to feel confident when hiring your company. So, it’s essential to use the right cargo straps for every load, especially when hauling heavy items.

Even if your drivers have years of experience, things can happen. Without using the appropriate cargo tie-down straps correctly, a load could shift or fall off the truck. Either way, that creates a risk of something getting damaged. Not only could you lose a valuable customer, but insurance payouts could bring your operations to a halt.

Securing Cargo With Heavy-Duty TieDown Straps Is Good Business Practice Regardless of whether you’re a seasoned transporter or just getting started, it’s imperative to adopt good business practices. That includes everything from sales to billing to securing loads. Informing a customer about damaged goods is bad enough. Even worse, failing to use cargo straps could put your drivers and innocent people in danger.

The other thing to remember is that the government requires you to secure freight properly. Especially when it comes to heavy loads, you could find yourself in hot water with even one mishap. Regardless of the type of truck, whether refrigerated, flatbed, low boy, and so on, you can never be too careful.

Key Factors to Consider When Using Cargo Tie-Down Straps Below are some of the most important things to do with every customer delivery.

•

Inspection – When it comes to straps, particularly heavy-duty tie-down straps, always do a physical inspection before using them. That way, you can identify any rips or frays that could compromise their integrity. Unfortunately, some drivers don’t do this, which puts them and the cargo at risk.

•

Type, Quantity, and Size – Always use the correct type and size of cargo straps, as well as the right amount based on the load. These straps come in several materials, thicknesses and widths. Rather than assume, confirm that what you have on hand will suffice.

Hardware – To secure cargo tie-down straps, you also need to use the right type of hardware. The most common are cam buckles. However, you’ll also need a ratchet to get the straps taut, so the cargo doesn’t shift.

Labels – When transporting goods in Canada, the strap’s working load limit or WLL must be both visible and readable. Otherwise, officials don’t consider them legal. As for hauling freight in the U.S., any illegibly labeled straps get downgraded by inspectors.

Load Weight – For cargo that weighs 40,000 pounds, all the cargo straps combined must equal a minimum of 20,000.

•

•

•

•

Chains – Sometimes, drivers use chains in conjunction with cargo tie-down straps for heavy loads. If you find any damaged or rusted chains during your inspection, immediately take them out and replace them. As for chain ratings, they must equal one-half of the cargo’s weight at a minimum. Now, when hauling heavy equipment that weighs more than 10,000 pounds, you need at least four direct tie-downs per piece.

Make Your Deliveries Safer For superior-quality cargo straps, chains, and hardware, you can count on us. Along with providing top-of-the-line industrial solutions, we can answer your questions so that every load is delivered safely.

Source - https://www.eagleswing.org/articles/how-to-ensure-the-safe-shipping-of-heavy-items